Police ‘no comment’ over reports filed

The police have declined to comment about their apparent lack of action on 17 reports filed by the parents of a 15-year-old girl who was allegedly in a sexual relationship with a man twice her age before relatives attacked him with a sickle.

The parents wanted the police to intervene since their attempts to split them up had failed.

The police media relations unit said it was not prudent to comment when asked about this seeming lack of action over the reports, saying the matter was in court.

On June 3 the man was allegedly hit with a sickle by the protective grandfather and uncle of the teenage girl.

John Vassallo, 61, and his 25-year-old son Johann, both of Dingli, are facing criminal proceedings for the attempted murder of Josef Grech. Mr Grech was slightly injured in the chest.

Mr Grech, in turn, is charged with defiling the underage girl, participating in sexual acts with her and relapsing.

He had testified that his relationship with the girl was “nothing sexual” and was actually condoned by her parents. Her mother had once even let them sleep together at their home in a double bed. Mr Grech had also denied he knew the girl was now 16 years old, although he had organised a surprise birthday party for her. He also denied being questioned by the police vice squad over their relationship.

It emerged in court that the girl’s family had filed 16 reports at the Rabat police station, where the family lives, and another report with the police vice squad. All reports were filed between February and June complaining about the relationship.

Testifying in court, WPC Cassandra Grech said she had personally handled about five reports on the illicit relationship, adding she knew that “substantially” more reports had been made on the matter before the alleged attack.

When questioned about the contents of the reports, the officer said some were about inappropriate messages sent over Facebook to the girl by the man and another about insults against the grandfather.

Lawyer Franco Debono, who is defending the grandfather and uncle in the attempted murder proceedings and appearing parte civile for the minor in the defilement case, hinted in court that timely investigation of the numerous reports could have possibly prevented events unfolding the way they did.